Meet the Owner and Founder

"In Loving Memory of James Calvin Boyd, Sr."

February 1, 1930 - May 31, 1996

One of twelve siblings, of the late David Augustus Boyd and Mary Lou Sharpe-Boyd, James Calvin Boyd, Sr. was born on February 1, 1930 in Jacksonville, Florida.


His family moved to Palatka, Florida and there he was raised. He attended Central Academy High School; then left school and joined the United States Army and served from 1946 through 1949. After his discharge, he returned to Palatka and completed his high school education in 1950. In 1951, Boyd attended Bethune-Cookman College, but once again left school to join the military service. This time he joined the United States Air force, where he served until 1956.


On January 5, 1956, he married Corine Howard and they became the proud parents of eleven children. After being in the Funeral Profession all of his life, Boyd decided to attend Atlanta College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia and Miami-Dade Community College from which he received his degree in 1968.


He worked with his father at the funeral home in Palatka from 1957 to 1964 and co-established D.A. Boyd and Sons Funeral Home in Winter Haven, Florida with his late brother, John A. Boyd, Sr. In 1968, he relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to take the position of Licensed Funeral Director and Manager of the house of Albert Funeral Home. In 1971, he moved his family to Fort Lauderdale and took that great step of faith by opening his own funeral home. He was able to staff his business with his eleven children.


During his twenty-five year residency in Fort Lauderdale, Boyd has become known as a Community Activist, Human Rights Activist and Humanitarian who has given his time, talent and finances to enhance the well-being of the community.


He has given and received so much love and dedication from his wife, Corine, who stood by his side until death did part them, and his children whom he expressed his love to by always hollering to show them the right way and opening his heart as well as his wallet.


In 1994, he totally dedicated his life to Jesus and witnessed to everyone who he came in contact with. After a long bout with renal failure, Boyd went home to take a little rest on Friday, May 31, 1996 in the early morning hours.


He was preceded in death by: brothers Irvin, John and Charlie, Sr.; and a sister, Fannie. Boyd will be greatly missed by: his loving wife of forty-one years, Corine; thirteen children, Cassandra Boyd and Goldie Boyd of Miami, Florida, Walter R. (Charlene) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Hattie J. Wilson (Clarence) of Winter Haven, Florida, Milton of Atlanta, Georgia, Mildred Matthews (Melvin) Winter Haven, Florida, Erma J. Dorsey (Herman) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, James Jr. of Portland, Oregon, Nathaniel (Debbie) of Fort Lauderdale, Lucious of Deerfield Beach, Florida, Mary Boyd of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Avis L. Gaines (Earl) of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Bon of Atlanta, Georgia; five sisters, Rosa Boyd-Singleton of Palatka, Dorothy Boyd-King (Mose) and Tomsena Boyd-Clark and Pancena Boyd-Monroe and Erma Boyd Hines all of Palatka, Florida; two brothers, Alfred Boyd (Jennie) of Palatka, Florida and Frank Boyd (Sarah) of Tampa, Florida; fifty-three grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; and a host of loving and caring relatives and dear friends.